Insulated rail-joint.



L. GRIFFITH.

INSULATED RAIL JOINT. l APPLIUATIUN FILED BIPT. z, 190s.

969,856. I l Patented s epfh 13,1910.

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num/Hmz UNI'IED STATES PArENrr OFFICE.

LAWRENCE GRIFFITH, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK.

INSULATED RAIL-JOINT.

To all whom .it may concern.'

Be it .know-n that I, LAWRENCE GRIFFITH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city -o Yonkers, count-y of liiestchester, State of New York, have invented certain new and -use-ful Improvements in Insulated Rail-Joints, .of which the following is a specification, reference. being had therein to t.- 1e accompanying drawing, in wlnel1 Fig-ure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the join-t; and Fig. 2 aside elevation thereof.

1t is one of the objects of .this invention to provide an insulated rail joint of simple construction which will efectually .prevent electric currents passing from one railroad rail -to the adjoining connected rail.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a joint wherein the bearing sxu'fnees between the parts of the joint will be very broad and so disposed as to resist the wear -on the insulating material, this insulating` material usually being the. ordinary hard fiber insulation.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the parts of the joint that they ma?r be rolled bsuitable rollers, and in which the two si( es of the joint will he exactly alike.

Referring to the various paris by numerals. 1 designates the head of the rail; the web thereof. and 3 the base. T he two sides of the joint ure exactly alike. and, therefore, u description of one side thereof will apply to both sides. Each of the fish' pluies or splice hars 4 is formed along its upper edge with an inwardly extending head flange 5 whose upper surface inclines inwardly and downwardly, as indicated at 6. This flange extends a considerable dis tance beyond the inner surface of the fish plate so as to provide n very broad inclined surface, as shown in Fig. 1. The lower portion of the fish plate formed with`an inwardly extending flange Y adapted to extend over the upper surface of the buse of the ruil; and with the. outwardly extending hase flange which also extends over the base of the rail. The under side of the flange 7 constitutes the lower side of the fish plate.

Fitting under the hands of therails are filler blocks 9 which are formed with fle.- pending vertical webs 10. These filler blocks ure equal in length to the fish plates and bridge the joint between the rails. The

Speeitlcation of Letters Patent. Patented Sept 13 191() Application flled September 2, 1908. Serial No. 451,318.

filler block is inclined to correspond .to the inclination of the u per surface .of the :flange 5 .and bears .direct y on said fiange. The width of the upper surface o the flianigge 5 and the under surface of the upper portion of the filler block is much greater than the width of the underside of the adjacent `portion of the rai-l head; and the under side of the flange 7 is substantially .equal to the upper side of theilange 5. The filler block 1s we fre-shape in cross section, and tapers from its inner edge outwardly as shown in Fig. 1. The object of this is to hold 'the fille-r block in position against lateral displacement and to provide means whereby u downward strain on the filler block will tend to force the sh plates outwardly and to force the filler blocks inwardly toward the rail. This is of great advantage' in that it prevents the fiber being broken by the vertical vibrations of the rail. The fish plates or s lice bars are independently supported on t e. ties and there is fre'uently a slight rerticnl increment of the rail independentlyY of the fish plates during the passing of a train. If some means are not provided to automatically take up this movement the fibel' will be soon Worn and disintegrated. B r forming the filler block as described the parts of the joint will automatically adjustthemselres to lthis independent rail movenient while at. the saine time holding insulation firmly pressed against the rail.

interposed between the filler block and the rail is insulation 11. This insulation is fitted closely against the under side of the rail head and against the web of the rail and on the up er surface of the base thereof. It is forced clhsely in contact with the rail by the upper portion of the filler block and the web thereof and by the flange 7 of the fish plate.

It will be noted that the insulation will be held closely against the rail by the filler block and that the filler block will bear on the insulation throughout its entire inner surface, thereb providing a broad bearing -for the insulation on the rail and reducing the liability of disintegrating or cutting the insulation by the vertical vibrationsof the raiis. The object. of forming the sur-faces of the flanges 5 of the splice bars and the corresponding surfaces of the filler blocks larger than the under side of the adjoining portion of the rail head is to transmit the under side of the upper main portion of the l strains to u greater surface, thereby more iii ' enls are separated from each other by the strongly bracing the rail and materially re ducing the danger of lateral displacement. By roviding the filler block for holding the insu ation in lace against the rail there will be a certain t cgi-ee of flexibility in the joint which will ii'event the cutting of the insulation; and y providing filler blocks which bridge the joint between the rails and are substantially equal in length to the iiii plates or splice bars the entire joint is strengthened and the tendency to shear the insulation by an uneven vertical vibration of the rail ends is avoided. I consider this a great advantage of my joint over those joints in which the filler blocks do not bridge the joint between the rails.

The web 10 of the filler block does not extend to or contact with the base of the rail so that the rail may have a slight vertical vibration independently of the filler block. The webs of the filler blocks, and the splice bars, are correspondingly apertured for the )assage of the connecting bolts 12 said bolts being insulated from the fish plates by the insulation 13 and the insulating washers 14. It will be noted that the insulation extends the entire length of the filler blocks. The splice bars are each formed with a depending strengthening web 15, said web bridg- 0 the joint between the rails. The rail insulation 16.

The features of invention shown in the drawings and described herein but not claimed are the subject matter of claims embodied in my co-peiiding application Serial No. 4501608, filed August 28, 1908, covering certain improvements in rail joints.

Having thus described my invent-ion, what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. An insulated rail joint comprising a air of fish plates having their upper suraces downwardly and inwardly inclined and their lower surfaces downwardly and outwardly inclined to correspond to the inclination of the upper surface of the rail base, a pair of ii ler blocks havin@ their lower surfaces inclined and adapte to fit closel against the upper surfaces of the fish lates, said lower surfaces extending inwar ly beyond the inner surfaces of the fish plates, whereby the fish plates may move inwardly on the filler blocks, the inner and upper surfaces of the filler blocks corresponding iii shape to the adjacent surfaces of the rail, and iiisulations fitting tightly between the filler blocks and the rail, and between the lower surfaces of the fish plates and the upper surfaces of the rail base, whereby the filler blocks will be held against movement on the iiisulations.

2. An insulated rail joint comprising a fish plate having an upper surface greater in width than the adjoining underside of the rail head and a lower surface adapted td fit over the base of the rail, a filler block having an under surface broader than the adjoining under surface of the head of the rail and extendin inwardly be ond the in ner edge of the h plate, saidy bi-id ing the joint between the insu ation interposed between the filler block and the rail and between the lower surface of the fish plate and the base of the rail, the filler block fitting closely against the insulation.

3. An insulated rail joint comprising a iish plate formed with a downwardly and inwardly inclined upper surface broader than the adjoining underside of the rail head, a filler block having a corres ondingly inclined broad under surface a apted to contact with the upper surface of the fish plate, said under side of the filler block exteiidin inwardly beyond the inner edge of the iisi plate whereby the fish plate may inove inwardly on the filler block, insulation interposed between the {iller block and the rail, said insulation completely filling the rails, and

FAspace between the filler block and the rail whereby the ller block will be held against independent inward movement, and means for insulating the fish pla-te from the base of the rail.

4. An insulated rail joint comprising a fish plate having its *luder surface broader than its upper surface and downwardly and outwardly inclined to adapt it to fit over the base of the rail, a ller block interposed between the upper surface of the fish plate and the underside of the rail head, the under surface of said iiller block extending inwardly beyond the inner edge of the fish plate, whereby the fish plate may move inwardly on the filler block, and insulation interposed bet-Ween the filler block and the rail and filling the space between said block and the rail to prevent inward movement of the filler block, and insulation interposed between the base of the rail and the under side of the fish plate.

5. An insulated rail joint comprising a pair of fish plates, each of said plates being formed with a downwardly and inwardly inclined upper surface= a filler block interposed between the upper surface of each sli plate and the rail head, said filler block iitting closely against the upper sui-face of the fish plate and being wedge-shape in cross section and taperingoutwardly,whereby it will be held in position against lateral displacement, and insulation interposed between eacli of said filler blocks and thc rail head.

6. An insulated rail joint comprising a pair of fish plates, each of said plates being formed with a downwardly and iuwardly inclined upper sui-face, a filler block interposed between the upper surface of filler block each fish plate and the rail head, said filler blocks fittin closely against the u )per surface of the ish plate and being wedge-shape in cross section and tni'iering outwardly whereby it will be held in position against lateral displacement, said filler blocks bridging the joint between the rails, and insulation inter osed between each of said filler blocks an the rail head.

7. A rail joint comprising a pair of fish plates, each of said plates being formed with a downwardly and inwardly inclined upper surface, a filler block interposed between the upper surface of each fish plate and the rail head, said filler block fitting closely against the u per surface of the sh plate and being we ge shape ir. cross section and tapering outwardly whertby it will be held in position against lateral displacement.

S. An insulated rail joint comprising a air of fish plates, each of said plates being formed with a broad dcwnwardly and inwardly inclined upper surface and with an upwardly and inwardly inclined lower surface overlying the base. of the rail, the upper surface bein" broader than the adjoining under side of the rail head and said lower surface being as broad as the upper surface of said fish plate, a ller block interposed between the upper surfaceof each of the fish plates and the lair heads, said filler block being as broad as the upper surface of the fish plate and correspondingly inclined on its under surface and bridging the joint between the rails, and insulation interposed between the filler blocks and the rail heads and between the under surfaces of the fish plates and the base of the rail.

t?. An insulated rail joint comprising a plir of fish plates, each of said fish plates ,ing formed with a broad downward and inwardly inclined upper surface, said upper surface being of greater width than the width of the under side of the adjoining portion of the rail head, a filler block adapted to be placed between the upper surface of each fish plate and the rail head1 the iinder surface of said filler block being of greater width than the width of the under side of the rail head, and insulation interposed between the filler blocks and thc rails.

10. A rail joint comprising a pair of fish plates, each of said plates being formed with a downwardly and inwardly inclined u pper surface, a filler block interposed between the upper surface of each fish plaie and the rail cad, said filler block fitting clos-el against the u per surface of the fish plate and being we( gee-shape in cross section and tapering outwardly, the meeting 'surfaces of the 511er blocks and the fish plates being of greater width than the width of the under side of the adjoining portion of the rail heads. c

11. An insulated rail joint comprising a pair of fish plates, a filler block interposed etween the upper surface of euch fish plate and the heads of the rails, said filler block fit-ting closely ai minst the upper surface of the fish plate an( being wedge-sha e in cross section, and insulation interpose between said filler blocks and the rail heads.

12. An insulated rail joint comprising a pair of fish plates, a filler block bridging the joint between the rails and interposed between the upper surface -of each fish plate and the heads of the rails, said filler block fitting closely against the upper surface of the fish plate and being wedge-shape in cross section, and insulation interposed between said filler blocks and the rail heads.

13. In an insulated rail joint the combination of a fish plate, a fillei` block adapted to bridge the joint between the rails and to be interposed between the upper surface of the fish late and the rail heads, said filler block being wedge-shape in cross section, and insulation interposed between said filler block and the rail heads.

14. In a rail joint the combination of a fish plate formed with a. downwardly and inwardly inclined upper surface, a. filler block interposed between the upper surface of said fish plate and the rai head, said filler block being wedge shape in cross section and ta pering outwardly whereby it will be held in position against lateral displacenient.

15. In a rail joint the combination of a fish plate formed with a downwardly and inwardly inclined upper surface, a filler block bridging the joint between the rails and interposed between the upper surface of said fish plate and the rail head, said filler block being wedge shape in cross section and tapering outwardly whereb it will be held in position against lateral isplacement.

16. An insulated rail joint comprising a fish plate formed with a downwardly and inwardly inclined upper surface broader than the adjoining under side of the rail head, a filler block wedge-shaped in cross section and having a correspondingly inclined broad under surface adapted to contact with the upper surface of the fish plate, said under side of the filler block extending inwardly beyond the inner edge of the fish plate whereby the fish plate may move inwardly on the filler block, insulation interposed belween the filler block and the rail, said insulation completely filling the space between the filler block and the rail whereby the filler block will be held against independent inward movement, and means for insulating the Fish plate from the base of the rail.

1T. An insulated rail joint comprising a fish plate formed with a downwardly and under surface under side of the rail head, a filler bloc wedge-shaped in cross section interposed between the upper surface of the fish late and the rail head, the Said filler block being sub. stantially equal in width to the upper surface of the [ish late and correspondn ly inclined, said inc ined surface extending 1nwardly beyond the inner edge of the fish plate and said filler block brl ging the joint insulation interposed bethan the adjoinin between the ra ils,

tween the filler block and the rail, said insu-` lation filling the entire space between the filler block and the rail.

18. A rail joint comprising a fish plate formed with a downwardly and inwardly inclined up er surface broader than the adjoining under side of the rail head, a. ller lock wedge-shaped in cross section interposed between the up er surface of the fish plate and the rail hea the under surface of said filler block being substantially equal in width to the u per surface of the fish late and corrispon ingly inclined, said inc ined surface extending inwardly beyond the inner edge of the fish plate and sa1d filler block bndging the joint between the rails.

19. In an insulated rail joint the combiecosse nation with the meeting ends of rails, of a pair of fish plates having their under surfaces broader than their up er surfaces and downwardly and outwardly inclined to adapt them to fit over the bases of the rails, the upper surfaces of said fish plates being downwardly and inwardly inclined, a pair of filler blocks interposed between the up r surfaces of the fish plates and the undgr sides of the rail heads, the under surfaces of sald filler blocks extending inwardly beyond the innersurfaces of the fish plates and said blocks bridging the joint between the rails whereby the fish plates may be adjusted inwardly on the filler blocks and the rail base, and insulation lling the space between said blocks and the rails to revent inward movement of the filler bloc s, and insulation interposed between the base of the rails and the under sides of the fish plates.

In testixnony whereof I hereunto aiix my signature 1n the presence of two witnesses t-hls 1st day of September 1908.

LAWRENCE GRIFFITH.

Witnesses:

E. H. KAUFMANN, War. R. Davis. 

